Robin Hood’s Post

Exploring the power of Universal Basic Income in Stockton and Vancouver has reinforced my belief in UBI's potential to reduce poverty and homelessness. Remarkable outcomes like fewer days without housing and reduced unemployment show UBI's transformative impact. Critics take note: when we empower individuals financially, society progresses. Let's discuss how UBI could reshape our social landscape. #UBI #SocialChange #PovertyReduction Original article: https://lnkd.in/eMB6p36C

A wise and brutally honest take on the problem with affordable housing from our president and founder, Frank Dobrucki. Dobrucki's perspective on affordable housing is simple: Homeownership is the most realistic way to escape poverty and participate in generational wealth, but finding affordable housing seems near impossible in today's world. That's why our mission at Controlled Equity Housing is to make affordable housing a reality for Americans everywhere. Help us make homeownership a realistic goal for every American by registering to show your support at https://lnkd.in/gHbjKWSZ 🔗 #affordablehousing #homeownership #generationalwealth #americandream #escapepoverty #realestate #ownrealestate

As a previous lead analyst at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy (CPSP), I'm excited to share a groundbreaking report on energy insecurity in New York City, recently published by RobinHood in collaboration with CPSP! While working under the guidance of the Research Director, Sophie Collyer, at CPSP, I had the privilege of leading this innovative study that sheds light on a critical aspect of poverty in New York City. Key highlights of my contribution: •Analyzed extensive data from CPSP’s unique Poverty Tracker survey •Created compelling data visualizations to illustrate our findings •Authored the majority of the report, translating complex data into actionable insights This project underscores the importance of understanding energy insecurity as a key factor in explaining poverty in NYC. Our findings reveal how limited access to affordable and sustainable energy impacts daily life and perpetuates cycles of hardship for many New Yorkers. Some key takeaways: •In an average year, a fifth (20%) of New Yorkers fall behind on utility payments because they’re unaffordable and roughly 1 in 10 (9%) have their utilities shut off because there isn’t enough money to pay the bills. •Over a five-year period, more than 4 in 10 (42%) New Yorkers fell behind on utility payments in at least one year and more than 1 in 5 (23%) faced a utility shutoff because of an affordability issue. •New Yorkers in poverty, female New Yorkers, Black and Latino New Yorkers, renters, and Bronx residents all faced elevated rates of energy insecurity in an average year and when looking at the persistence of energy insecurity across multiple years. •70% of New Yorkers who could not afford a utility payment at least once in a five-year period also faced multiple other forms of material hardship in the same period, including not being able to afford rent, food, or medical care. The same is true for 85% of New Yorkers who had their utilities shut off. I'm proud to have been a leading analyst on this important project that aims to inform policy decisions and drive positive change in the New York City community. Energy security is not just about keeping the lights on—it's about dignity, health, and opportunity for all New Yorkers. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gMpfSAru Huge thanks to Sophie Collyer, Christopher Wimer, Diana Hernandez, the RobinHood foundation, and the entire team for their support and collaboration on this crucial project. #EnergyInsecurity #NYCPoverty #PolicyResearch #DataAnalysis #SocialImpact What are your thoughts on energy insecurity in urban areas? I'd love to hear your perspectives!

If you haven't listened to the Armchair Expert episode with Matthew Desmond, stop everything you're doing and give it a listen. He covers: - Why government spending on poverty is so high and yet it's making more progress than ever (in his opinion) - Simple, low-hanging fruit solutions to getting more people the support they need - Why housing is driving the homelessness crisis in the US - How we can all maintain hope and challenge ourselves to think more about how we can subsidize the right things in the US Thanks to Brandon Clarke for the share.

We all know people who are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. ALICE households and households in poverty are forced to make tough choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent — choices that have long-term consequences not only for their families, but for all. https://lnkd.in/eV6y7brs

The official definition of ‘fuel poverty’ masks the actual number of people struggling to heat their homes. People say that we are out of an “energy crisis” however it will have a long-term impact on people’s circumstances. Great to be able to discuss ways on how to reduce your usage and provide tips that do not require upfront investment and are practical. #switch2 #tacklingfuelpoverty 

ALICE is an acronym that stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. It refers to households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but cannot afford the basic cost of living in their county. Despite struggling to make ends meet, ALICE households often do not qualify for public assistance. United for Alice data shows that 27% of Hoosier households identify as ALICE. These households earn enough to not be considered below the poverty level, but not enough to afford the basics. It means Hoosiers might not be living in poverty, according to the federal government's definition, but they're hurting. They're using food pantries to get by, depending on our meals like the ones you pack with Million Meal Movement to feed their families.

BREAKING - United for Alice has brand new data on the plight of Georgia families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These ALICE families are gainfully employed but earn just enough money to miss out on state and federal benefits. Meanwhile, as prices continue to rise, these families are increasingly being left behind and threatened with living in poverty. What about the poverty level: ALICE takes on the Federal Poverty Level which is an outdated, antiquated, and arbitrary number that doesn't accurately reflect someone's financial situation as prices continue to rise. For example, while the FPL for a family of 4 is $30,000, the ALICE Liveable Wage for that same family in Bibb County is now $78,456. The ALICE framework is designed to identify and help people before they fall into poverty. New data: 1,399,204 of the 4,021,382 households (or 35%) in Georgia qualify as ALICE. This means that ALICE families are all around us. It could be the greeter at your church, the waitress at your favorite restaurant, or the cashier at your local grocery store. The first step to making a difference is to understand the problem accurately. Learn more by reading the data for yourself here: https://lnkd.in/egEHeRsg

Per #UnitedForALICE’s new data, the number of struggling families in Oregon and Washington is still growing despite bigger paychecks. Why? As wages went up, so too did costs – making it nearly impossible for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and individuals to keep pace. For a family of four with an infant and a preschooler, the costs of basics in Oregon (without tax credits) rose from $88,152 in 2021 to $96,084. That's more than three times the Federal Poverty Level. #oneyearlater. Families urgently need a new perspective on poverty; many are working jobs that once provided sufficient support but no longer do. Take some time to understand the crosscurrents of this issue in Oregon and Washington by exploring this new data below: Read the update for Oregon: UnitedForALICE.org/oregon Read the update for Washington: https://lnkd.in/grkrfSbb #ALICE2024 #economy #poverty #inflation #workingpoor

We talk a lot about poverty levels, but we don't talk a lot about ALICE levels. We all know someone who is ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. ALICE workers were celebrated as essential heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they do not earn enough to support their own families. Take a look at the sobering graphics in this report. Thanks to the United Way of the Piedmont for raising my awareness of this issue. https://lnkd.in/gMWi2Gd9